Author: European Springs

The subject of robots is definitely a fascinating one for us here at European Springs, which is the reason why we like to keep up to date (and keep you guys updated) with the latest robotic news!

We were extremely fascinated by the news of this new “soft robot” – a design that has been given the nickname “Octobot.” The device, which is powered by microfluidics, has been influenced by the movement, strength and elasticity of octopuses. The Harvard engineers have admitted that these sea creatures have long been inspiration for their breakthrough in robotic design.

An Extremely Challenging Task

The engineers were fully aware that they had set themselves a seemingly impossible task – a robot with no rigid parts has never been done before. Previous attempts had struggled to come up with effective ways to replace the usual components such as batteries and controls. Would it be possible to design a working system that was completely soft?

Extensive Research

The extensive research carried out by the engineers at Harvard have shown that this is entirely possible. The robot – Octobot – is driven by small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. A small amount of liquid fuel is converted into gas through a chemical reaction – this is used to design the soft limbs of the bot.

A 3D printed microfluidic logic circuit is what is responsible for controlling this reaction and controlling when the peroxide decomposes to gas. This is also used to 3D print the functional components that will be used within Octobot – such as the fuel and power storage.

What Next?

Now that the initial concept and research has been completed, the team over at Harvard will now go on to fully design a robot that can crawl and interact within its environment.

They hope that their design will go onto inspire and influence science and roboticists in the future.

There is definitely more to come now that we’ve had this breakthrough in robotics and we can’t wait to hear more! Don’t worry; we will definitely keep you updated!

Until then, please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on how we can help you make a breakthrough in your own engineering masterpieces.

European Springs

For instance, are you sitting on an office chair while reading this? It’s thanks to them that you’ve been able to regulate its height and back to your maximum comfort!

How Do They Work?

The fascinating feature of a lockable gas spring is that its rod can be locked at any point in its travel – and remain there indefinitely. The tool that activates this mechanism is a plunger. If the plunger is depressed, the rod can operate as usual. When the plunger is released – and this can occur at any point in the stroke – the rod is locked in a specific position.

The release force is the force you need to apply to activate or deactivate the lock. Theoretically, the release pressure is ¼ of the extension force of the piston rod. Nevertheless, in practice it should also be taken into account the force required to break loose the seals on actuation, so when creating a lockable spring the release force must be always slightly higher. An expert company such as European Springs will be always able to determine the accurate release force that a given project requires.

Different Rods

Rods can have different characteristics once they are locked. They can be, for instance, flexible, which means they are very resistant when being pulled or pushed. They can also be rigid in tension: there is no flexibility if rods are being pulled but there is a slight flexibility if they are being pushed. Finally, they can be rigid in compression if they are a bit flexible when they are being pulled but not when they are being pushed.

Why Do We Need Lockable Gas Springs?

Think about lifting the back door of your car. If you wanted to impress your three-year-old child, you could do it with a finger. And not only that, but the door also gets locked at an specific point allowing you to load up all your shopping bags – after the Saturday visit to the shopping centre – without the nuisance of having to open it multiple times.

How is it possible that you can lift something so heavy with such a small force? And how can that heavy weight remain just where you want it? The answer here is: lockable springs. They are also essential for medicine: they allow your dentist to regulate the position of the chair you are sitting in – while you hope for a quick and painless treatment.

Benefits

Using lockable springs can bring lots of great advantages. For instance, they are perfectly safe when the apparatus is in locked position and movement cannot be tolerated. (Think about an operating table, for instance).

Another benefit is that these simple mechanisms don’t require any other special force or source of energy to be activated or to remain in their locking position. This makes lockable springs very cost-effective and also environmentally friendly.

European Springs Lockable Gas Springs

Our catalogue of lockable springs includes no less than 70 different items. Their force ranges from 200 to 1000 N. Their strokes are available from 15 to 210mm. Finally, we can provide you with a number of different release mechanisms  to make sure they adapt to the specific needs of your project.

Looking for springs or pressings? We are willing to offer you nothing but the very best! Contact our expert team today and we’ll be delighted to help!

As seasoned adventurers, both Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg have the experience for the job. In 1999, Piccard made the first successful non-stop balloon flight around the world. Borschberg knows how to deal with adverse conditions; as a former Swiss Air Force fighter pilot, he’d brushed up with death through a helicopter crash and an avalanche.

Record Breaking Prototype

The Solar Impulse Project was initiated in 2003 by Bertrand Piccard. He undertook a feasibility study in partnership with the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. The following couple of years saw them develop their concept before simulating long-haul flights in 2006.

The first prototype, Solar Impulse 1, was built between 2006 and 2009. Both manned test flights and test flights through Europe and North Africa were conducted from 2009 to 2012. From these rigorous tests, Solar Impulse 2 was constructed in order to bring Borschberg and Piccard’s vision to life.

This Swiss experimental solar-powered aircraft is led by Swiss psychiatrist and aeronaut Bertrand Piccard, and Swiss engineer André Borschberg. The goal of Solar Impulse was to be the first to circumnavigate the Earth with a fixed-wing aircraft that is completely solar-powered. Bringing attention to clean technologies was another goal.

Solar Impulse 1, the prototype, could stay airborne for up to 36 hours and, in 2010, it flew a total of 26 hours. Other successful flights, like the first international flight by Solar Impulse in 2011, were conducted from Switzerland to Spain and to Morocco in 2012. A multi-state flight across the United States was successfully conducted in 2013.

How is Virtual Reality Being Used?

Most people are not fans of dealerships, and would instead prefer to purchase their vehicle online. With the rise of VR technologies, this concept is now closer to becoming true – while it’s still not doable, the truth is that the experience of buying a car is already changing.

You will probably continue to have contact with the seller at the dealership, but you’re also going to be able to experience what it’s like to be sitting behind the wheel of a car even if you’re standing. An example of how this is done is through the Oculus Rift headset, which seeks to speed up the experience of buying a car.

Is This a Valid Concept?

Despite the innovation of these technologies, not everyone seems convinced of the benefits VR can bring to the automotive industry. They question whether it will appeal to dealership’s target audience or if gamers are the ones truly interested in VR – and whether VR can really meet the needs of their customers.

Because of this, some countries, such as Germany (45%) and France (33%), still prefer to purchase a vehicle by having strong face-to-face contact with the seller; others show interest in online digital experiences, and the VR experience that is already part of many dealerships is turning that into a reality.

A Virtual Reality Example

Audi is taking VR seriously. First they explored the idea of interactivity in their Audi City, the flagship store in London’s Picadilly. Through the use of Microsoft Kinect, the shop has touchscreen walls and display walls that showcase cars and their parts – and allows visitors to configure models the way they like and peek at all the different components.

And now their VR technology is soaring to new heights. To provide potential customers with an idea of how their cars will look and feel after the purchase, Audi partnered with Zero Light to produce high quality images that offer a realistic experience.